Heater for propellers



May 26 1931. w. WATERS 1,8073% HEATER FOR PROPELLEHS -Filed 001;. 28,1927 2 Sheets-Shest l 1 W'ilzb'mll bfargmm ATTORN EY May 26, 1931. wWATERS 1,807,359

' HEATER FOR PROPELLERS Filed Oct. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WZZZhMWQfCrQZ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1931 WILLIAM WATERS, 013BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS HEATER FOR PROPELLERS Application filed October,28, 1927. Serial No. 229,444.

This invention relates to improvements in n; propellers especiallyadapted for aircraft, an object being to provide means for preventingsnow, sleet and ice from collecting upon'the U propeller.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for thispurpose which is electrically operated, and to which current may besupplied from a generator or other 1 suitable source, so thatthepropeller may be kept at a temperature above freezing.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention furtherincludes the following novel features and details of construction, to

15 be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings t Figure 1 isan elevation of a propeller constructed inaccordance with the invention, parts of the blades being broken away andthe brushes shown in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts, the reference character in- 30 dicates apropeller which, is mounted upon a shaft 11,'the latter being securedwithin the hub 12 of the propeller as indicated at 13.

Mounted upon the pro eller shaft 11 is a non-rotatable sleeve 14 w oseend abuts one face of the hub of the propeller as clearly shown inFigure 2 of the drawings. The hub 14 is provided with sockets 15 whichopen at the outer ends of the hub and which extend parallel with theshaft 11. The sockets 15 sleeve 14 and have located therein collectorare radially offset with respect to one another rings 20, so that thesprings 18 force the ends of the brushes 16 into contact with theserings.

The propeller is of metal construction and arranged within each blade ofthe propeller is aresistance element 21. These elements are connected bya conductor 22 which is housed Within the propeller and which extendsaround the shaft 11, while conductors- 23 connect the resistanceelements 21 with the collector rings 20.

It will be seen that current supplied to the brushes 16-from a suitablesource will be picked up by the rings 20 and conducted to the resistanceelements 21, so that the blades of the propeller will be heated toprevent accumulation of ice and sleet.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaim.

Having described the invention what is claimed is In a device of theclass described, a shaft, a hub fitted to the shaft and rotatabletherewith, blades radiating from the hub, a sleeve in which the shaft isrotatable, one side of the hub being in engagement with the end of thesleeve, the said side of the hub being provided with annular groovesconcentric to each other and to the axis of the hub, a collector ring ineach of said grooves, an electrical resistance in each of said blades, aconductor bridging corresponding terminals of the resistances,conductors connecting the other ter- M minals of the resistances, eachwith a respective one ofthe rings, the sleeve being rovided with socketsat "opposite sides 0 its axis and each in communication at its outerendwith a respective one of the grooves, contact brushes slidably mountedin the sockets, current conductors connected with the brushes, and meansin the sockets yieldably holding the brushes in contact, at their outerends, with the respective connector rings.

In testimony whereof I ailix my si nature.

WILLIAM WA RS.

